Before reading this review, please keep in mind I have only seen the first season so anything I critisize is from the first season.
I'm a huge fan of British Panel shows, such as 8 out of 10 cats does countdown, Taskmaster, Mock The Week etc. I also am a huge fan of James Acaster and (to a slightly lesser extent) Josh Widdicombe. So I thought this would be a great show for me but sadly, while it was enjoyable, it wasn't as great as I expected.
Things I liked
James Acaster-
he adds an exuberant charm to the show and I am sure that without him, the show wouldn't be as good.
The premise itself-
credit where credit is due to the developers of this program as they have come up with an interesting and fresh idea for a panel show. To be able to create an idea that can be moulded for something new every episode is commendable.
The physicality of it-
Sure it's not as physically engaging as something like Total Wipeout, but I appreciated the use of props and other items to elevate the show's humour.
Things I disliked
Josh Widdicombe-
this guy is pretty funny but in this show he feels very out of place. I'm not sure what he's supposed to be doing as his co-host James Acaster seems to be doling out points and setting the parameters for the hypothetical situation. Furthermore, most of the time he sounds bored and speaks in a flat tone, making the show feel a bit awkward. Maybe if they gave him a more inclusive role on the series he could be more funny, or maybe if he just acted more relaxed I would enjoy it more.
The audience-
this isn't necessarily the show's fault but my god do the audience get in my nerves. Normally in a panel show you get laughs from the audience after every joke, volume dependent on how funny the joke was. If a series of quick fire jokes are made or something is highly amusing, the audience will clap for about 5 seconds. The problem is the audience seem to clap every other joke which completely grinds the show to a halt. Again, I don't mind the laughs and I don't mind the clapping, as long as its used sparingly for the really good jokes, not every other one.
The length-
This show often feels like an uncut episode of Would I Lie To You where the contestants in that show are allowed to ramble on and on which makes the show inherently less funny. I think this show would fit a half an hour runtime much better, as it allows for quickfire comedy in a small size. However that's not to say there aren't some great moments in these long episodes.
Conclusion
While there are some genuinely laugh out loud moments that occur regularly, the show can sometimes feel a bit awkward and stilted, largely due to the audience and Josh Widdicombe, although James Acaster and the guests for each episode often help lessen the awkwardness. If you are in the mood for something breezy and light, this show fits the bill pretty well. However it is going to need some changes to be considered one of the great panel shows.
